Scheming Couple Scams 60 million THB From Investors

Nearly two dozen people lost 60 million THB to a couple who deceived victims into investing in a new business to build freezers for frozen chickens. Police arrested the couple, who also duped many Bangkok investors with their Ponzi-like scheme.

CHONBURI – September 19, 2012 [Pattaya Daily News]: at 5:30 p.m., the husband of a couple accused of investment fraud was arrested by police officers from division 2, suppression division. They later sent him to the detective team of the Nong Kham police station in Sri Racha.

The suspect was identified as Mr. Anupat Woradithee, age 36, under the court warrant from Chonburi provincial court Jor.777/2555.

Mr. Anupat had been in hiding in Bangkok after his wife was previously arrested, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The warrant charges the couple with money fraud worth 60 million baht.

The police investigation began in August, after the couple had convinced more than 40 victims to invest in a business to build freezers to store frozen chickens. Mr. Anupat and his wife, Mrs. Suphalak Chaopapreechakul, age 41, represented themselves as direct marketers from a company.

One of their victims was Ms. Thanaporn Jitsaichon, age 55, an accessories seller, living at the house number 41/74 Moo 1, Tambon Surasak, Sriracha, Chonburi.

Ms. Thanaporn had known Mrs. Suphalak as an aquaintance. In April 2011, Mrs. Suphalak persuaded her to invest in the chicken-freezer business, claiming that she would get 7 percent of the resulting income per month.

So Ms. Thanaporn invested 300,000 in venture capital to help start up the business. She later received her first payout of 30,000 baht. Mrs. Suphalak then convinced her to invest more money, and also asked her to persuade other people to invest. Mrs. Suphalak eventually accumulated more than 40 investors.

Mrs. Suphalak had been paying Ms. Thanaporn and her followers until April, and then the payments stopped. When asked, Mrs. Suphalak said that the business was in trouble, so she did not have money to pay out.

When asked about the capital funds, the couple said that they would find money to return soon. Soon after, the couple paid the investors with several checks. But when taken to the bank, the checks could not be cashed.

So the investors gathered together to notify the police at Nong Kham police station. Mrs. Supaluk got arrested on August 22. The victims brought to the police the evidence of the fraudulent checks and all documents related to investment losses.

Then a warrant was issued for the arrest of her husband, Mr. Anupat, from the Chonburi provincial court, Jor. 777/2555. But he apparently had gone into hiding and avoided capture.

On September 13, a group of 15 victimized investors led by Ms. Thanaporn came to meet with Pol. Col. Prasopchoke Prommul, the vice commander of suppression division, to check on the progress of the case, and whether Mr. Anupat had been arrested.

After the meeting, Pol. Maj. Gen. Suphisal Pakdeenaruenart, the commander of suppression division, ordered that police track down the fugitive. The hunt for the suspect was conducted by Pol.Col. Prasopchoke Prommul, the vice commander of suppression division; and Pol. Col.Akkradej Pimolsri, the vice commander of suppression division; who brought forces from operation team 3, squad 2, suppression division, to investigate the whereabouts of the suspect.

Mr. Anupat had a listed address of house number 25/69 Moo 1, Tambon Pak Khlong Bang Pla Kot, Prasamutjadee, Samutprakarn. However, police eventually found the suspect hiding in Ninladda Village, soi Prachautis 32, Moo 4 ,Thung Khru, Bangkok. So the police forces, using the Chonburi court warrant, arrested him in the house and brought him in for questioning.

However, Mr. Anupat denied all the accusations against him. The police then sent him to the detective team in Nong Kham police station to prosecute. The victims, led by Ms. Thanaporn, were informed that the police had arrested Mr. Anupat, so they came to see the suspect.

The victims told police that in the Sri Racha area, the suspect couple had defrauded 23 people who altogether lost 60 million baht. In addition, they said more than ten other people had also been defrauded, but the victims might be too embarrassed to notify police, so the total loss is expected to be several millions more.

The couple has reportedly defrauded more than 200 victims from Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Maha Sarakharm, with losses worth more than 100 million THB. Police did not know if the victims in other places had notified police to prosecute the couple.

The suspect’s father, Mr. Suthep Woradithee, said his son was innocent but his wife had lured him to do it. Mr. Suthep said if his son had really done what he is accused of, he would have a billion baht money. But his son is not yet rich, so Mr. Suthep hopes his son will fight the case in the court.

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